The chaga mushroom, Inonotus obliquus, is said to help several medical problems, help the immune system, and even help cure addiction. Some of the claims are it helps cure certain types of cancer, and helps allergies. Of course, no addiction can be cured without intense willpower. Chaga contains oxalates and can be toxic for kidneys as oxalates are the basis for one type of kidney stone.
Note: there are many types of cancer that affect one organ. Normally a study only tests a substance against 1-2 types of liver cancer, or kidney cancer. There are also possible side effects of using chaga, as it can contain many different substances, some of which help, some of which cause problems. This is why studies will often isolate the chemical that helps people, so the patients have fewer side effects.
People with kidney problems should not take any chaga!
This is a summary of studies, with links, about the chaga mushroom. First the title of the study will be given, then the summary, then the full citation with internet link where possible.
The studies
“Review on Chaga Medicinal Mushroom, Inonotus obliquus (Higher Basidiomycetes): Realm of Medicinal Applications and Approaches on Estimating its Resource Potential.”
(There is nothing here but a short abstract. The paper costs $25usd.)
Balandaykin ME, Zmitrovich IV. Review on Chaga Medicinal Mushroom, Inonotus obliquus (Higher Basidiomycetes): Realm of Medicinal Applications and Approaches on Estimating its Resource Potential. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2015;17(2):95-104. doi:10.1615/intjmedmushrooms.v17.i2.10 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25746615/
“Chemical characterization and biological activity of Chaga (Inonotus obliquus), a medicinal “mushroom”.”
In Russian traditional medicine, an extract from the mushroom Inonotus obliquus (Fr.) Pil´at is used as an anti-tumor medicine and diuretic. It has been reported that Inonotus obliquus has therapeutic effects, such as anti-inflammatory, immuno-modulatory and hepatoprotective effects.
Oxalic acid was found as the main organic acid, with the highest amount in the aqueous extract from Russia. Gallic, protocatechuic and p-hydroxybenzoic acids were detected in all samples. Inonotus obliquus extracts showed high antioxidant and antimicrobial activity.
Glamočlija J, Ćirić A, Nikolić M, et al. Chemical characterization and biological activity of Chaga (Inonotus obliquus), a medicinal “mushroom”. J Ethnopharmacol. 2015;162:323-332. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2014.12.069 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25576897/
Bioactivity-based analysis and chemical characterization of cytotoxic constituents from Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) that induce apoptosis in human lung adenocarcinoma cells (chaga kills lung cancer cells).
Baek J, Roh HS, Baek KH, et al. Bioactivity-based analysis and chemical characterization of cytotoxic constituents from Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) that induce apoptosis in human lung adenocarcinoma cells. J Ethnopharmacol. 2018;224:63-75. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2018.05.025 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29800742/
Assessment of the Gastroprotective Effect of the Chaga Medicinal Mushroom, Inonotus obliquus (Agaricomycetes), Against the Gastric Mucosal Ulceration Induced by Ethanol in Experimental Rats. (How chaga protects the stomach from alcohol.)
Xin X, Qu J, Veeraraghavan VP, Mohan SK, Gu K. Assessment of the Gastroprotective Effect of the Chaga Medicinal Mushroom, Inonotus obliquus (Agaricomycetes), Against the Gastric Mucosal Ulceration Induced by Ethanol in Experimental Rats. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2019;21(8):805-816. doi:10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.2019031154 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31679287/
The mast cell stabilizing activity of Chaga mushroom critical for its therapeutic effect on food allergy is derived from inotodiol. (How chaga helps food allergies.)
While an anti-allergic effect of Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) has been indicated, its therapeutic effect on allergy and immunoregulatory mechanisms and chemical constituents directly responsible for that are hardly known. We examined the effect of 70% ethanol extract of Chaga mushroom (EE) and its dichloromethane (DF) and aqueous (AF) fractions using a mouse model of chicken ovalbumin (cOVA)-induced food allergy, and found that only EE and DF ameliorated allergy symptoms to a significant extent. The in vivo mast cell-stabilizing activity was also found only in EE and DF whereas the activities to suppress Th2 and Th17 immune responses and cOVA-specific IgE production in the small intestine were observed in all three treatment regimens, implying that inhibition of the mast cell function by lipophilic compounds was vital for the therapeutic effect. Results also indicated that inotodiol, a triterpenoid predominantly present in DF, played an active role as a mast cell stabilizer.
Nguyet TMN, Lomunova M, Le BV, et al. The mast cell stabilizing activity of Chaga mushroom critical for its therapeutic effect on food allergy is derived from inotodiol. Int Immunopharmacol. 2018;54:286-295. doi:10.1016/j.intimp.2017.11.025 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29175507/
Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) induces G0/G1 arrest and apoptosis in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. (How chaga treats one type of liver cancer.)
Aim: To investigate the anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) water extract on human hepatoma cell lines, HepG2 and Hep3B cells.
Chaga mushroom may provide a new therapeutic option, as a potential anticancer agent, in the treatment of hepatoma (liver cancer).
Youn MJ, Kim JK, Park SY, et al. Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) induces G0/G1 arrest and apoptosis in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. World J Gastroenterol. 2008;14(4):511-517. doi:10.3748/wjg.14.511 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18203281/
Chaga and kidney damage.
Chaga mushroom-induced oxalate nephropathy. (Chaga and kidney damage.)
Chaga mushrooms have been used in folk and botanical medicine as a remedy for cancer, gastritis, ulcers, and tuberculosis of the bones. A 72-year-old Japanese female had been diagnosed with liver cancer 1 year prior to presenting at our department. She underwent hepatectomy of the left lobe 3 months later. Chaga mushroom powder (4 – 5 teaspoons per day) had been ingested for the past 6 months for liver cancer. Renal function decreased and hemodialysis was initiated. Renal biopsy specimens showed diffuse tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis. Oxalate crystals were detected in the tubular lumina and urinary sediment and oxalate nephropathy was diagnosed. Chaga mushrooms contain extremely high oxalate concentrations. This is the first report of a case of oxalate nephropathy associated with ingestion of Chaga mushrooms.
Kikuchi Y, Seta K, Ogawa Y, et al. Chaga mushroom-induced oxalate nephropathy. Clin Nephrol. 2014;81(6):440-444. doi:10.5414/CN107655 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23149251/
Development of End Stage Renal (Kidney) Disease after Long-Term Ingestion of Chaga Mushroom: Case Report and Review of Literature.
Chaga mushrooms are widely used in folk remedies and in alternative medicine. Contrary to many beneficial effects, its adverse effect is rarely reported. We here report a case of end-stage renal disease after long-term taking Chaga mushroom. A 49-year-old Korean man with end stage renal disease (ESRD) was transferred to our hospital. Review of kidney biopsy finding was consistent with chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis with oxalate crystal deposits and drug history revealed long-term exposure to Chaga mushroom powder due to intractable atopic dermatitis. We suspected the association between Chaga mushroom and oxalate nephropathy, and measured the oxalate content of remained Chaga mushroom. The Chaga mushroom had extremely high oxalate content (14.2/100 g). Estimated daily oxalate intake of our case was 2 times for four years and 5 times for one year higher than that of usual diet. Chaga mushroom is a potential risk factor of chronic kidney disease considering high oxalate content. Nephrologist should consider oxalate nephropathy in ESRD patients exposed to Chaga mushrooms.
Lee S, Lee HY, Park Y, et al. Development of End Stage Renal Disease after Long-Term Ingestion of Chaga Mushroom: Case Report and Review of Literature. J Korean Med Sci. 2020;35(19):e122. Published 2020 May 18. doi:10.3346/jkms.2020.35.e122 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32419395/
More links
Pubmed search: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=chaga+mushroom
